Which statement describes Zaretsky’s view of the private sphere within the family?

• A. It is a private sphere that provides emotional comfort and reproduces class
• B. It is a purely private sphere with no societal function
• C. It undermines workers’ motivation
• D. It prevents class reproduction

Answer: (A)

Zaretsky sees the family’s private sphere as a place that provides emotional support for workers while also playing a crucial role in maintaining the social order. He argues that, beyond being a private sanctuary from the pressures of work, the family reproduces class relations. Through the socialisation of children and the transmission of wealth and gendered roles, the family helps perpetuate the structure of capitalism from one generation to the next. So a statement that describes the private sphere as both a source of emotional comfort and a mechanism for reproducing class fits his view precisely: the private sphere supports individuals emotionally, but it also inadvertently (or systematically) reinforces and passes on class distinctions. The other options miss this dual function: the private sphere isn’t seen as purely private with no social function, nor as undermining workers’ motivation, nor as preventing class reproduction.